Will Russell never become world champion? Why Toto Wolff disagrees with Helmut Marko

Helmut Marko believes that George Russell will not get another chance at the world title – Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff disagrees with his compatriot

George Russell went into the 2026 Formula 1 season as the clear favourite. Whilst some experts predicted a run-out victory to the world title following his opening-round win in Melbourne, the reality – with five races remaining this year – looks completely different.

Russell trails his team-mate Kimi Antonelli by 123 points, with Antonelli needing just two more points to secure the world championship. In light of these stark figures, Helmut Marko believes that Russell is unlikely ever to become Formula 1 world champion again.

Speaking to Sky and RTL, the long-standing Red Bull motorsport consultant said that the course of the season had been “certainly a massive mental setback” for Russell. “Russell is no longer the number one driver [bei Mercedes],” said the Austrian.

“Antonelli has quite clearly taken that position from him,” said Marko, for whom Russell is still “one of the top drivers”. However: “I doubt whether he’ll ever have another chance at the world title or be given number one status anywhere.”

Wolff: Russell still a potential champion

When confronted with these statements, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff responds with a smile, alluding to the somewhat strained relationship between Marko and himself: “He’s my Austrian ‘not-quite-mate’, but I respect his opinion.”

“But I think he’s wrong when it comes to George. George has the necessary talent. I just think the car isn’t right for him,” said Wolff, who does agree with Marko that it is currently “difficult” for Russell mentally, as he has failed to live up to his role as favourite this year.

Nevertheless, he warns against writing Russell off altogether just yet. “I believe that in a new season – if we provide him with a fast car – George absolutely has what it takes to win a championship,” the Mercedes team principal clarified.

“I therefore think it’s a bit too simplistic to say: ‘Let’s forget all the years he won in Formula 2 and Formula 3, his rookie years and the two consecutive European Karting Championships’,” says Wolff.

Russell clinched the title in 2017 in what was then the GP3 Series, one of the precursors to today’s Formula 3; a year later, he triumphed as a rookie in Formula 2, before moving up to Formula 1 in 2019 with the Mercedes customer team Williams.

The Mercedes W17 simply isn’t a good fit for Russell

“All that is still there,” says Wolff, referring to Russell’s successes in the junior series. In 2026, he explains, it’s simply the case that the car suits his team-mate Antonelli better. “George is a true champion for all of us in the team,” emphasises Wolff.

“ If we set up the car to suit him, he’s incredibly fast. However, as soon as it falls outside that performance range, he struggles. And he struggles more than perhaps Kimi does. And that’s down to us,” says Wolff, defending Russell.

“We simply have to work with him to find out how such a difference in driving style and performance can arise. After all, George isn’t half a second or three tenths slower than Kimi,” the Austrian clarifies.

At the recent Grand Prix in Austin, Russell finished 0.441 seconds behind Antonelli in qualifying; a day later in the race, he was a full 54 seconds behind his victorious team-mate at the finish line. According to Wolff, this does not reflect the true balance of power.

Russell himself recently commented on his difficulties compared to Antonelli: “The characteristics of the car, the tyres and the power units provide the perfect mix for [Kimis] driving style. I had to adapt my driving style accordingly.”